From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Lady of the United States is the title of
the hostess of the White
House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the
wife of the President of the United
States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a
sitting president. However, several women who were not presidents'
wives have served as first lady, as when the president was a
bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable
to fulfill the duties of the first lady herself. In these cases,
the position has been filled by a female relative or friend of the
president.

Contents

Origins of
the title

Dolley Madison
was the first President's Wife to be referred to as "First Lady" at
her funeral in 1849.

The use of the title first lady to
describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United
States. In the early days of the republic, there was not a
generally accepted title for the wife of the president. Many early
first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were
addressed, including the use of such titles as "Lady", "Mrs.
President", and "Mrs. Presidentress;" Martha Washington was often referred
to as "Lady Washington."

According to legend, Dolley Madison was referred to as "first
lady" in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor.
However, no written record of this eulogy exists.[1]
Sometime after 1849, the title began being used in Washington,
D.C. social circles. The earliest known written evidence of the
title is from the November 3, 1863 diary entry of William Howard Russell, in which
he referred to gossip about "the First Lady in the Land." The title
first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper
journalist Mary C.
Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of
the Land" while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford
B. Hayes. The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes' activities
helped spread use of the title outside Washington. A popular 1911
comedic play by playwright Charles Nirdlinger titled The First
Lady in the Land popularized the title further. By the 1930s
it was in wide use. Use of the title later spread from the United
States to other nations.

The position of the First Lady is not an elected one, carries no
official duties, and receives no salary. Nonetheless, first ladies
have held a highly visible position in U.S. government.[2]
The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries. She is,
first and foremost, the hostess of the White House.[2]
She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of
state either along with, or in place of, the president.

Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams
gained fame from the Revolutionary War and were treated
as if they were "ladies" of the British royal court.[2]Dolley Madison
popularized the first ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist
orphans and women, by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting
newspaper coverage, and by risking her life to save iconic
treasures during the War
of 1812. Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her
actions were the model for nearly every first lady until Eleanor
Roosevelt in the 1930s.[2]
Plagued by polio, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was not free to
travel around the country, so Mrs. Roosevelt assumed this role. She
authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show.[2]Jacqueline Kennedy added the role of
decorator of the White House when she was first lady, engaging in
an expansive campaign to restore the White House.[2]

Over the course of the 20th century it became increasingly
common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote,
usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for
the first lady to hire a staff to support these activities. Lady Bird
Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification;
Pat Nixon encouraged
volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad; Betty Ford supported womens' rights; Rosalynn Carter
aided those with mental disabilities; Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug
awareness campaign; Barbara Bush promoted literacy; Hillary Rodham Clinton sought to
reform the healthcare system in the U.S.; and Laura Bush supported womens' rights groups
and encouraged childhood literacy.[2]
Clinton was, for a time, given a formal job in the administration.
She became a U.S. Senator from New York in 2001
and is currently the Secretary of State in
the Obama administration. Many first ladies, including Jacqueline
Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, and Michelle Obama have been significant
fashion trendsetters.[2]

There is a strong tradition against the First Lady holding
outside employment while serving as White House hostess.[3]
However, some first ladies have exercised a degree of political
influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the
president.[2]

The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable
to the First Lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the
White House, and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial
events of the White House. The First Lady has her own staff that
includes a Chief of Staff, press secretary, White House Social
Secretary, Chief Floral
Designer, etc. The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the
White House Office, a branch of the Executive
Office of the President.[4]